When Does Companies House Need an English Translation?
Companies House generally requires documents delivered to the registrar to meet its language rules. In many cases documents are filed in English, while specific categories of documents may be delivered in another language if they are accompanied by a certified English translation. Welsh companies also have separate Welsh-language filing provisions.
Do not assume that every foreign corporate document can be filed in the same way. Check the Companies House rule that applies to the document and filing you are making before arranging translation.
What Is a Company Constitution?
“Company constitution” is a broad term. Depending on the company and jurisdiction, it can refer to constitutional documents such as articles of association, a memorandum, resolutions, agreements or equivalent overseas corporate documents.
The exact document that must be delivered to Companies House depends on the filing event. Overseas companies registering a UK establishment, for example, have specific rules for copies and translations of constitutional and accounting documents.
Certified Translation Requirements Can Depend on the Filing
Companies House guidance distinguishes between different filing situations. For some overseas-company filings, a certified translation must be authenticated by an appropriate company officer or office-holder specified in the guidance. That is different from the general concept of a translation company supplying its own certification statement.
For that reason, send the exact filing requirement with the document. A translation provider can prepare the English translation, but the required certification or authentication step must follow the applicable Companies House rule.
Documents That May Need Translation
- articles of association or equivalent constitutional documents
- memoranda or equivalent formation documents
- resolutions and agreements where the relevant filing rule permits a translated version
- accounts and reports where Companies House requires or permits a certified English translation
- other overseas-company documents required for registration or ongoing filing
This is not a universal filing checklist. Confirm the exact form, document and language rule on GOV.UK or with Companies House before submission.
How to Prepare a Corporate Document for Translation
- Identify the filing. Confirm which Companies House form or filing event the document relates to.
- Check the current language rule. Establish whether an English translation is mandatory and who must certify or authenticate it.
- Send the complete document. Include schedules, signatures, seals, amendments and any pages that form part of the source.
- Confirm corporate terminology. Provide existing approved English company names, officer names and defined terms where available.
- Review the translation. Check names, dates, share information, figures and references against the source before filing.
- Complete the required certification. Follow the Companies House rule for the specific filing rather than using a generic certification format automatically.
Does the Translation Need to Mirror the Original Layout?
The translation should make it possible to identify the corresponding content clearly. Companies House also has document-format and legibility rules. If the filing has a prescribed form or specific presentation requirement, follow that requirement rather than relying on a general translation template.
Cost and Turnaround
Corporate translation pricing depends on the language pair, word count, legal complexity, formatting, certification requirements and deadline. A constitution or articles document can be substantially longer and more technical than a standard certificate, so it should be quoted from the complete file.
Companies House Translation Support
See our Companies House translation service for commercial support, or our broader legal translation service for corporate legal documents. Send the filing type and any Companies House instructions with the document for review.
Sources and Review
Last reviewed: 18 September 2026. Companies House language and certification requirements vary by filing. Current Companies House guidance should be checked before submission.
